New Orchids (Laelia pumila and Laelia sincorana) on their way!

[Claire25]

Well, I finally did it...after a long time "window-shopping" online I went ahead and ordered these two species. (Early Xmas present for me ) I've been wanting the Laelia sincorana for a long time...it's the "coerulea" form that is soo lovely...but the pumila was a bit of an after-thought. Anyone have experience growing this species on a windowsill? I'm sure the sincorana will be fine, but I'm a little concerned about the humidity requirements for the pumila.

And one more thing...I like to give most of my Catts full sun outdoors in the summer from mid-morning to early afternoon...do you think this will be too much for the L. pumila?

Thanks for any suggestions!
Claire

[mab3362]

Hi I grow both of these guys and they seem to be a bit different in their requirements (at least in my hands). Sincorana are pretty easy, they don't mind the light and I grow them either in rocks or in sphag with equal success. I live in Texas and they do well. I have a few pumilas and they hate our summers, these guys want to be shaded more than other cat's and kept on the cooler side if possible. I water them everyday in summer (ones in rocks) and less in the winter, in the winter, here they grow like weeds and bloom. But keep in mind they will not do the full sun for very long. I grow mine in rocks and in spag.. with equal results although the ones in spag do better in the summer heat. Some folks are more successfull mounting these guys, I haven't tried. I have a lot of cat species and I don't consider pumila a beginners plant.. but they are great. sorry for the rambling!

[Claire25]

Good to know! Thank you!

[Claire25]

I just wanted to add another comment in response to the great info you gave me, mab (didn't have time to, earlier). I'd love to mount the pumila, but unfortunately I grow in a low-humidity environment nearly half the year. Even in the humidity of summer my plants dry out too quickly for a mount to be feasible. (I'm a bit of a lazy waterer).

Thanks to your tips, I will definitely keep my pumila on the shady side. I had a Cattleya luteola for a few years that did well on the side of my porch that gets only early morning sun--I will start the pumila in that location and see how it does.

I grow all my small Catts in pure sphagnum in unglazed clay pots...it's good to know that you have had success with both sincorana and pumila in this medium. Perhaps the moss/porous clay combo helps to keep the roots cool? Either way, I'm sure if it works for you in your Texas heat it ought to work well for me up here in Maryland (though our Eastern Shore summers are no slouch in the blazing heat department, either!)

Thanks again,
Claire